Genetics and cell biology

Protein transport and secretion

Head of Unit

Roberto Sitia

Over the last decade, the lab focused on two tightly related problems, the pathophysiology of lymphocyte B to plasma cell development and redox regulation/signaling in the early secretory pathway. Important traits d’union between the two are ERp44, a multifunctional chaperone the group discovered a dozen years ago, which is involved in the assembly and quality control of polymeric IgM and the biogenesis and homeostatic control of the endoplasmic reticulum and secretory organelles.